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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 116 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  2. Did you ________________ the meat?
  3. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  4. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  5. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  6. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  7. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  8. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  9. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  10. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  11. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  12. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  13. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  14. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  15. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  16. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  17. When will it ________________ you to start?
  18. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  19. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  20. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  21. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  22. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  23. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  24. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. lash — to lash out
  2. season — to add flavour
  3. cap — of ice
  4. cap — a hat
  5. rock — music
  6. drill — the tool
  7. lash — a whip stroke
  8. drill — army training
  9. pass — to succeed
  10. suit — clothes
  11. hide — animal skin
  12. rock — to move gently
  13. season — in sport
  14. pass — a permit
  15. drill — a practice
  16. suit — in cards
  17. suit — to fit
  18. season — of the year
  19. rock — a stone
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. cap — a lid
  23. lash — an eyelash
  24. pass — to spend time

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com